Governor for water-elevators



J'. G. PULTN. Governor for Water-Elevators.

No. 228,524 Pafeented june 8,1880.

Jivenzor -UNrTED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

JAMES O. FULTON, OF EOOKPORT, TEXAS.

GOVERNOR FOR WATER-ELEVATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 228,524, dated June 8,1880, Application iiled January l2, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES C. FULTON, of Rockport, Aransas county, Texas,have invented a new and usef ul Improvement in Grovernors forWater-Elevators, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, which represents a side elevationof my improved governing device.

My invention has reference more especially to a class ofwater-elevators, such as windmills, which are intended to elevate waterinto a tank and maintain it ata given level to supply the demands ot'use.

In apparatus ot' this kind ithas been customary to use as a governor abucket or other open vessel, (connected with the tank by a iiexibletube,) which, when lled with water from the tank, drops down by itsincreased weight and disconnects or throws out of gear the pumping ordriving mechanism from which itis suspended. This device, as usuallyconstructed and used, is subject to many disadvantages, which it is thedesign of my invention to remedy.

In the drawing herewith, A'represents the tank to be tilled, and B B theframe-work of the windmill or other water-elevating mechanism.

O is my improved governor-vessel, which is suspended by a rope, 1', inthe usual manner, from the mechanism designed to bc controlled by thewcightot' water in the vessel O. Suitable guides D D are arranged toaccommodate and preserve the vertical motion of the governor-vessel.

The vessel O is entirely closed, excepting an aperture at the bottom, atwhich there is connect-ed a flexible tube communicating with the maintank A, by which means the water is allowed to iow into the vessel Oa-nd rise to thc same height as in the tank, and an aperture at the top,in which is iitted an openended vertical tube, F, of suficient length toallow the water to rise to the level of that in the tank in any positionofthe governor-vessel C without overflowing.

The suspending-rope r is connected with the usualcounterbalancing-weight, so that when the water falls in tank A, and byconsequence also in the vessel O, the latter, being lighter, will belifted by the counter-balance and the shifting mechanism duly operatedto increase the water-supply of the tank, but when in descending thesuspended vessel is brought below the level of the water in the tank,which therefore escapes through the flexiblevtube and continues tooverflow the open vessel until the latter again rises. Besides theunnecessary waste of water occurring from this source, increased expenseis entailed to provide and maintain a suitable wasteway to avoid thenuisance of sloppy or icy approaches to tank and machinery. In railwayservice the latter is often a serious inconvenience. Again, au openvessel, with nothing to guide or protect it, is always subject to thedisadvantage ot being jostled out ot place or caught in theframing-supports ofthe machinery, or of getting dirt in itsconnecting-tube, and thus interfering with its proper action.

Myinvention consists in the combination, with the operating mechanism ofa water-elevator, ot' a closed vessel or tank operating vertically uponor within guides, and provided with an open tube, in which the water mayrise t0 the tank-level'without overowing. Y/Vhen the govcrllor-valve isat its lowest position the water again rises in the' tank A and vesselC. The latter, by its increased weight, falls and operates to sh utoft'or diminish thc water-supply. Thus by the automatic action of thegovernor the supply is regulated.

-Having fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent- 1. The improved water-governor for windmills and otherwater-elevators, consisting ot' an otherwise closed vessel verticallyoperating upon guides provided with a vertical tube as a provisionagainst overflow, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The suspended vessel C, provided with the vertical tube F, incombination with guides D, flexible tube E, and suspending-rope A1',substantially as and for the purpose specitled.

In testimony whereoil I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day ofDecember, 1879.

JAMES C. FULTON.

Vitnesses:

C. F. BAILEY, H. B. WILLIAMS.

